Child abandonment charge laid against mother

15-month-old boy found alone in a burning house now in care of Children’s Aid Society

FIRE

Hamilton police have charged the mother of a 15-month-old boy rescued from a Bay Street North house fire with child abandonment.

The 25-year-old woman, whom police have not identified, was arrested Wednesday by detectives from the child abuse unit and released on a promise to appear.

The child, who family members said was being released from hospital the same day, has been placed in the care of the Children's Aid Society.

The fire broke out in a storage room at the rear of the house late on the morning of March 20.

The fire was called in by neighbours who saw smoke at the back of the semi-detached cottage.

The mother's boyfriend told The Spectator last week that the boy had been up and fussing all night.

He said when the baby finally fell asleep that morning, the mother seized the opportunity to run out to get some milk.

The boyfriend, who is not the child's biological father, said the mother had asked a neighbour to keep an eye on the house until she got back.

"I know how it looks. I'm not saying it's right," he told reporters, "but she's not neglecting this child. It's just sad. She's a good mom."

Police, who were first on the scene, were unable to enter the house because of heat and smoke. When firefighters arrived, they found the baby alone in his crib in a front bedroom. The child was taken to McMaster Children's Hospital, and treated for smoke inhalation.

The presence of the child, apparently at home alone when the fire broke out, led to an investigation by child welfare authorities and police, which culminated in Wednesday's charge.

The criminal code offers two ways of proceeding with a charge of child abandonment, with maximum penalties of either six months in jail or five years in prison, depending on whether the Crown prosecutor chooses to proceed via summons or indictment.

Although the Ontario Fire Marshal is investigating the blaze, Hamilton fire's public information officer Claudio Mostacci said the fire is not considered suspicious. Calls to fire marshal investigator Mike Ross were not returned.